Have just been trying to get some idea of cost for my trip with my girl to New York in November/December.

Unfortunately our nearest Pets route is Heathrow.

There are four airlines with Pet routes: British Airways, Delta, Continental and Virgin Atlantic.

It seems from this month only Virgin will continue to accept dog via private individuals,the others will only deal with Commerical Livestock shippers (and of course that will cost and entrail extra tiem away from you for the dog).

It seems the excess baggage option for accompanied dogs on outward journey with it's saving in price) is no longer an option, both directions the dog must go as Cargo nd be with them at least 4 hours before each flight.

OK so how much will it cost you might like to know.

Outward journey for the dog alone is £789.02 plus $35 (dollars) US import fee.

The Deffra and Cargo handling fees and animal Reception fees at heathrow are £275 for an accompanied dog on retuyrn to UK.

I have yet to find out what the return air fare is!

Return air fare for two people is roughly the same as Inka's flight out.

That means it costs four times much to fly the dog as to fly one of us.

We are talking dog plus kennel weighing 30kg, and the size of varikennel is the large being 36 inches long inches wide by 27 inches tall.

Is it any wonder there were so few dogs from US this year to Crufts??

All I can say Barbara is he must be one handsom Fella Inka is off to see....lets hope she likes the look of him ;) !!!
Can you just imagin if she took one look and said "Yuck"
:( :( :(
Still if all else fails you can do a bit of Xmas shopping ;) ;) ;)
Aileen

Even worse if she misses, she is stubborn enough like her grandmother Jozi to say yuk..

Just got a quote for return Cargo for the bitch $1588.12 (roughly £1095).  That's jsut extortion.

That woudl bring the costs for the dog to roughly £2200!!!

So looks liek we might be back to the drawing board and perhaps have her come back via one of the other Carriers using a Livestock shipper, could work out cheaper even with their fees.

In that case we could fly with a non pets route to New York that still takes Dogs as accompanied in the hold.

So question has anyone accompanied or sold a dog to soemtoejn who came and got it and took it back accompaied to US New York.

It's just extortionate isn't it! With charges etc, it cost me about £1000 to fly my young RR over here from Finland. I could have made 4 return flights for that cost!

With those costs, could you not artificially inseminate as an alternative?

I looked at AI, but we have such poor luck with it in our breed, the red tape the charges form storage, specialists transporting etc.

I would only have contemplated fresh, the logistics and cost seem just as bad with less chance of success, and even then the donor has to fulfil Pet Passport requirements (which this dog doesn't).

What are the costs of travelling from somewhere like France and coming back into France, then driving back through the Eurotunnel?    

A friend in France & I were contemplating jointly importing a new stud cat from the USA (Prices for the breed are so much more reasonable) and to get over the Heathrow handling fees we were thinking of flying him into France and he can get his PP for the UK whilst Valerie takes advantage of him being resident with her for mating her girls.

Yes that's a possibilty but not one hubby would relish, as where do we leave the car for two weeks?

Also tryign to arrange by phone flights through a foreign non english speaking country terrifies me, as it seems you have to deal with each country, and truying to deal with UK and US so far is nighmare.

Trying to look at which airline will do the outward journey as checked baggage. I beleive KLM do (via Amsterdam but the change over isn't as long as the extra crate time (4 hours) for Cargo.

Eurocar - hire car?

nNever hired a Car, yet an9toehr complication, but will try most things.

KLM from Bristol might be an option, with change over at Schipol still less time than the direct Cargo flight plus 4 hours pre flight that is required with Cargo.

Wow that is a lot of money and to think i was contemplating taking my boys over there for a long 3 months trip at some point in my head, well thats paid an end to that with the prices and thats just yr breed and with one dog alone.. Nope don't think taking my dogs to the states for some shows and a road trip is a good idea at all..

Hope you find a good way of doing this Barbara x

There's no hassle about hiring a car as long as you take your credit card, driving licence & 2 forms of ID with you or book online!  One way hire to wherever you travel and then have one booked for your return.

I'm sure you've considered this Barbara but can you not just have a few of his best swimmers shipped over? I think that even for a bitch that loves her crate and has an excellent temperament it's a lot to put up with.

edited to say, I posted this before reading further down and see that AI wouldn't work :-(

Well that rules us out as neither of us has credit cards ;)

You've got here as well
http://www.oxfordairport.co.uk/airport_services/pet_travel_scheme.htm

But not sure if they do USA or get you to European country and then on to USA?
Might be worth enquiring?

Will enquire, but looks like it is for chartered arircraft, so really feasible for groups say coming over to show.

Well that rules us out as neither of us has credit cards

We didn't either but when we went to Canada we took one out just for that visit. In the US and Canada you can only book certain things such as hotel rooms and hire cars by using a credit card although you can pay cash for the  item when you pay for it. We just used the card for our visit and paid it off straight away and then cut up the cards when we got home.

I looked at a one way car hire last year from mainland Europe to the UK, and the cost was astronomical, about £1500 for 4 days if I remember right.  I queried the cost and was told that they had to allow for cost of taking the car back to the hiring depot, which I suppose makes sense.  Whilst I check up on details for you a thought occured, allowing for the huge costs involved, have you looked into crossing by sea?  I am sure I read that the Queen Mary has onboard kennels, sailing to New York, don't know if it is a PETs route, but worth looking at?

Actually a friend suggested that, but how long does a sea crossing take, we might not get there in time for mating?

The QM2 does have kennels onboard although not many (12 I think I read).  They also have full time kennel staff.  According to my Dad who has just returned from a cruise with them there is also a lampost in the dog walking area just for the boys!!  It is an approved carrier

Crossing between Southampton and NY is 7 days but you'd have to book many months in advance so it may not be practical...

No the most notice I could give would be 3 days if it takes 7 :(

> I am sure I read that the Queen Mary has onboard kennels, sailing to New York, don't know if it is a PETs route, but worth looking at?

Wow if that is do-able... I saw the QM2 on her maiden voyage - she looked like a floating towerblock of flats.
I've not done anything like this with dogs, but travel to Holland is cheap & easy on the ferries from Harwich - surely you could find a way to fly out from there? Harwich is a PETS route as far as I know.

If we were to do Holland then I think I would try KLM from Bristol, change at Schipol then to New York, quicker than driving. 

Couldn't do it for the return but could for the way out and it would be checked baggage and not Cargo out.

Hopefully I might get through to them, as been trying since Friday.

Still waiting to see if it would be cheaper to go with one of the lines that require a Livestock carrier (BA, Delta or Continental) to deal with them, as the Virgin return Cargo seems totally extortionate.

Well thought I had it cracked.

Fly from Heathrow (have to beg a lift from friend with large enough car to get us there) at reasonable cost for dog as Checked baggage using KLM to New York, then fly for same reasonable dog charge from New York to Paris, then take Euro tunnel back to London and get lift from family from there.

Problem Eurostar won't allow dogs and that's the only way you can use the tunnel unless you drive.

So how do I persuade hubby to stay hom and then drive to France or Holland to fetch us back.

He is so hopeless with time and dates that he would get the wrong day, and we were rather hoping to make a holiday of it. ;(

Wonder which is an easier drive Schipol airport or Paris?

This site is quite useful - it has a whole section about how to transport pets across the channel.

Can you ask around to see if anyone is wiling to come and collect you all from Calais?  If you are able to pay travel costs there is bound to be someone that might fancy a day trip

Personally I would opt for Schipol which is about 40min North from port at Hook of Holland. An easy drive.

From Channel tunnel Paris is about 3hrs - route not difficult taking main autoroutes but driving in Paris (the city) itself is a tad challenging. Not 100% sure of location of airport but I expect it is somewhere off outer ring road ?

Karen   

I pick up fron Calais, all the time.
As long as your paper work is in order there is no problem.
Just make sure the passports have no mistakes as thet are very hot there.

Brainless I know a chap who is a member of our Dog Training club who runs a dog moving service - collects and delivers dogs to the continent and he may be able to advise you of various possibilities. He is licensed and a very responsible chap and may well be able to do the leg of the journey from Paris to Folkestone - he uses the Channel Tunnel. You could then collect your girl from him as soon as he enters UK with her.

This is his website

http://moveyourdog.com/default.aspx

Thanks folks.

Looks like long stay parking at Schipol is not excessive (E85 a week), and as my OH has an awful smoking and Beer habit, we can get a fag run in as well.

So looks like we drive to the Continent and fly from there, have had positive views on KLM so will go with them E200 each way for the dog is a lot less than the £800 outward and nearly £1400 return for her.

I'd imagine the outward Cargo cost would cover her trip there and back, our parking and Ferry.

Now just have to check which ferry routes allow dogs on Pets passport coming back.

Can you not go through the Eurotunnel like Marianne did last December?  You can also use your Tesco Clubcard points (If you shop there) which are worth 4 times their face value.

Ferry cheaper than tunnel, and you can get some sleep for the driver.

You can still snooze whilst you're on the train but it's so much faster than the ferry.  Easier for the dog too, you can wander around before your train and be off and on your way so much quicker at the other end too.

The tunnel is a doddle and I have to say I'd never use the ferry on that route again.  Do have a look for special offers, a friend of mine will buy newspapers just for the offers and has had reduced tunnel prices for years!

Gosh you sound to have a right nightmare planning all this I couldn't go through all this, it would drive me mad :-) ... I had a bit of a browse around and found Animal Airlines an international pet shipping company, they offer free quotes and fly from loads of airports in the UK... just type it into google. I don't know if they would be cheaper though.

Good luck with everything.

From Schipol,  I would travel back Hook Holland to Harwich (stena). I perfer night crossing as I find the the dogs settle down well and sleep in the car. (day crossing leaves 2pm - night crossing 10pm )

If you want a shorter channel crossing you could drive south to Dunkerque (generally a relatively cheep crossing - 2hrs ) or travel further south to Tunnel which is generally more expensive - I would estimate driving into France would take approx 4 hrs with a short stop . Have done a similar route shows and driving isn't too bad but on balance prefer the night ferry to harwich if traveling to / from areas north of rotterdam

K

We did a car journey last year from Cumbria to Germany at the time with only one dog. We went from Dover to Dunkerque, it was much cheaper than Calais and closer to where we were going. It took us 16 hours it's a long time but we had loads of stops for the pooch. We're planning on going again next year with two dogs but I don't think even though flying is less tiring, I couldn't travel that far. Why does travelling with pets have to be so complicated????

The next complication will be working out which will be best with flight arrivals departures, it all needs to marry up.

Personally I would prefer the ferry, and the dog is well used to the car, even sleeping in it when we have arrived late at Caravan site.

I'd probably cross over a day prior to the flight and travel close to the airport... just to be on the safe side but then again finding pet friendly accommodation could be another hurdle to overcome.

In Europe no problem.

Got to watch the tick and tape timings on return journey.

yes this could be quite difficult as it's certainly be more than the allowed 24-48 hours prior to re-entering the UK...and then finding a vet/animal hospital that's open 24/7 if the journey times are crazy times I really admire your plans.

I have a web link that lists vets in holland by town  http://www.dierenartsonline.nl/index.php?id=726     There are a few vets (westland clinics) in and around hook of holland, they speak good english and are familiar with passport regs. I generally take my own wormers / frontline and have never had problems.  If you need to stay over in Holland I can recommend the Campanille chain - very dog freindly, the one at Delft is by the side of a park so good dog walking as well. Delft is approx half way between schipol airport and the hook holland port. ( a number vets listed in Delft as well on the link)

K

I'd aim to get it done in the US before my flight. If I do it the night before the flight, I have abotu 36 hours to get back home, certainly won't want to be lodgin in Holland, at worst slep a few hours in car waiting for ferry.

My hair is turning grey just from reading about your plans, Barbara ;-)

He really must be something special.......this stud dog you've chosen.
Knowing you, I'm sure he is!
Fingers crossed everything works out when the time comes.
I'm sure you'll find it worth all the trouble, when the litter is finally born!

> I'm sure you'll find it worth all the trouble, when the litter is finally born!

If, and then like with the litter Myka was in all the best pups or all of them will be male.

His sire Grom was a top winning dog in Norway (earned his Can title on his stay there), and the current Top Norwegian Elkhound in Norway is by his sire too.

> His sire Grom was a top winning dog in Norway (earned his Can title on his stay there), and the current Top Norwegian Elkhound in Norway is by his sire too.

Why not use the dog in Norway then,by the same sire and a lot less travelling for your girl?

Would it not be easier to ask for the dog on loan and then you could campaign him whilst he is here?  If he's really good he may end up with another title to add to his others.   And if he covered any other bitches - on agreement - then his owners could pocket the stud fee's too?

Blimey, just getting from Suffolk to Heathrow was bad enough! :-p

To be honest borrowing a dog with promise to show it is a bit of a non starter.

We don't have that many CC's and it takes on average 3 years to make up a dog that is going to get it's title.

Also with a breed record holder. Ch show BIS and Crufts Group winner taking the majority of CC's over the last few seasons, and he has only just had his 7th birthday, the chances for males are smaller.

So very little guarantee of anything for a US owner with a 3 year old dog they are going to special.

Also if I am busy with puppies I wont have time to do so much showing, even when I do I am not the show at every show type anyway..

"Why not use the dog in Norway then,by the same sire and a lot less travelling for your girl?"

Tigger2 does have a point in that. Or maybe it's not as interesting on his dam's side of the pedigree?

Just make sure you mate as early as possible, keep your fingers crossed as hard as you can,and I'm sure you'll get the bitch pups you want ;-)

Unfortunately the Norwegians are not not board with our DNA testing requirement for prcd-PRA (the test is still new and their not convinced of it's need), and some are also not particularly sympathetic to those who don't breed for hunting ;)

We initially did look at Norway, but the dogs we were interested are int eh Far North, so would be quite a job travelling and flying would have the same issues as USA.

Also the owners of the males I was looking at do not speak English, so the language barrier to add to everything too.